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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T.BUGKLEY.

BRIDGE. w No. 374,887. Patented Dec. 13,1887.

7710mm Bltt'l'7g.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Attorney N, PETERS. mwumngm her. Wahinglnn. nc.

(No Model.) Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. BUGKLEY.

BRIDGE.

N0. 374,887. Patiented Dec. 13, 1887.

WITNESSES N. PErERs-Phuwmwgu her, Washington. 0.0.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. BUCKLEY.

BRIDGE. I No. 374,887. Patented Dec. 13, 1887.

WI TJV' ESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TO ISAAC LAVOUOHE,

JR, OF SAME PLACE.

emcee $PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,887, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed September 1, 1887. Serial No. 248,541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BUOKLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Middlebury, in the county ofAddison and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures ot reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railroad-bridges, the object of my invention being to provide a bridge which will be simple and rigid in construction, the floor thereof being thoroughly braced and supported, so that it cannot move or deflect from a straight line when heavy weights are placed upon the same; my invention also having in view means for preventing railroadcars from running off the bridge should they accidentally become derailed thereon.

- With the above ends in View my invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan View of the upper side of the roadway of the bridge, showing the superstructure removed there from. Fig. 2 is a bottom View. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through a point adjacent to one of the supporting piers.

A refers to one of the abutments, and B to one of the supporting piers. Between the abutments, and secured to a transverse beam, a, which is placed upon said abutment, are secured the ends of wire cables 0, said wire cables being provided between the piers and abutments with turn-buckles c, by means of which any slack can be taken up. These wire cables pass through eyebolts b, which are rigidly secured to the piers B, and the ends of the wire cables are provided with nuts I), which may also be employed for tightening said cable. A series of three or more longi- (No model.)

tudinal parallel cables are employed .in the construction of the bridge, said cables being preferably located under the main portion of the road-bed. On each side of the outer cables, so that the upper edges will be practically on a line with said cables, are located a series of longitudinal beams, D D, which are secured to each other in a substantial manner by bolts or otherwise, and these beams are braced by diagonal cross-pieces E E, which cross or bisect each other centrally.

The longitudinal beams D at suitable intervals are cut away, and have blocks (I inserted in said cut-away portions, and through said blocks (Z and the beams D pass bolts 6, all the parts herei nbefore referred to beinglocated either on a line with or below the cables G 0.

Upon the beams D D are placed a series of transverse joists, G, the lower edges of which rest upon the wire cables 0 and upon the upper edges of the longitudinal beams D, and above these joists G are secured longitudinal planks. These longitudinal planks H have secured to the under side thereof a series of fiat bars of strap-iron, h, the ends of which are upturned, said ends being secured to the vertical edges of the planks H. Above the longitudinal planks H are placed and secured transverse planks I, there being secured to the edges thereof guard-rails K, the upper edges of which are protected by a suitable cover of strap-iron.

Immediately above the transverse plank I are placed a series of T-rails, z, and the tracks L, these T rails being adapted to form a track for the car-wheels should a train become derailed upon the bridge, so as to prevent the cars from coming in contact with the main guard-rails K K or the trusses of the bridge.

The T-rails hereinbefore referred to are each bolted to the abutment A by means of eyebolts which pass through beam f, which is let into and keyed to the transverse portion a of the abutment A. The trusses or upper portion of the bridge may be of ordinary construction, the upper portion or truss forming no part of the present application, though the same, as in any other case, assists in strengthening the bridge as a whole.

The bridge hereinbefore described is adapted especially for railroad use. The T-rails, which form the entire upper surface of the bridge, practically cover the whole bridge, except that portion occupied by the railroad-rails, and through said T-rails passes a bar,to which the eyebolts n are secured, the opposite ends of said eyebolts being secured to the barf, which is pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the abutment A.

By placing the blocks (1 between the longitudinal beams D, creeping or longitudinal movement of the beams D upon each other is prevented without causing undue strain to come upon the bolts E.

I claim- 7 1. In combination with a bridge, sectional wire cables secured to the abutments A A and passing through eyebolts secured to the piers, said cables having turn-buckles a, longitudinal beams D, and transverse beams G, adapted to rest upon the beams D and upon the cables, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a bridge constructed I substantially as described, the supportingbeams D, wire cables 0, transverse beams G, upon which is secured the longitudinal planking, and metallic straps H, secured to thelongitudinal planking on the under side of the same, substantially as shown,and for the purpose set forth.

3. The c0mbination,in a bridge constructed substantially as described, with the longitudinal and transverse planks H and I, of the longitudinal T-rails located above the transverse plank, said T-rails being secured to the abutments, substantially as shown,and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BUOKLEY.

Witnesses:

LYMAN E. KNAPP, CLARENCE B. RIGGS. 

